Toy building construction



Jan. 20, 1931. A. c. GILBERT 3 TOY, BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 13, 192

Patented Jan. 20,1931

UNITED STATES CPA-TENT, OFFICE ALFRED C. GILBERT, OF HAMDEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO A. C. GILBERT COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND V 'rov BUILDING" cons'rnucrlon Application filed February 13,1926. Serial No. 88,130.

This invention relates to a toy building construction, and more particularly to certain structural units or elements comprising such parts as strips, plates, cylinders, disks and the like, each having a series of openings to receive fastening devices whereby these parts may be assembled and detachably secured together in various relations to form a. number of models or toy structural devices.

Such toys are primarily intended for the use of children of various ages, and as certain of the toys are adapted for younger boys, it is desirable that they shall be assembled with facility and readily secured in position so that their use will not prove too great a tax upon the understanding and ingenuity of boys of the age for which they are intended. Other models are of greater complexity and are adapted for boys of more advanced age and for those who have ac quired skill in the use of the parts.

One object of my invention is to produce an element for use in structures of dificrent character of such a construction thatv it can be used in a large number of different arrangements and combinations to produce a number of different structures, and at the same time may be combined with other elements with which it is used in a simple manner.

' Another object of my invention is to provide a number of structural elements which be as small as possible. i

Another object of the invention is to pr'ovide a construction element which may be used to simulate not only one but various actual structures, so that the number of different parts required in a complete toy set will be relatively small. 7

To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel features and combination of parts 'to be hereinafter described and claimed.

1n the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is'a side elevational view of a model Fig.2 is a sideelevational view of a model of a vertical stationary engine in which are used many of theparts used in the construction of the locomotive shown in Fig. 1;

n Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a model of a furnace embodying my improvements; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the plate of which one ofthe cylinders of the models shown in Figs. 1 to 3 is made;

Fig. 5 comprises side and plan views of the cylinder head;

' Fig; 6 is anenlarged perspective view of asmaller cylinder used in many of the models; r Fig. 7 is a section on line 77 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a cylindrical element used in many of the models.

. The model of; the locomotive shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings comprises a cylindrical boiler element 10 mountedat its front end upon trucks '11 by means of a bracket member 12, and secured at its rear end. to side plates 13 which are suitably mounted upon a rear drive wheel structure 14. The

boilerelement to this plate.

A cab structure may be formed off-hori vZontal plates 18 secured to the plates 13 by the vertically disposed members 19. At the sides of the front truck members 11 may besecured the steam cylinders 2O, upon, the ends of which are mounted caps 21, the piston being simulated by a rod 22 passing through one of the caps and having connected thereto a connectingrod 28 pivotedat one end to apln 24 eccentrically mounted on one OfthQ'Cll'lVG Wheels.

The cylindrical boiler member is provided with a relatively large opening 25 within which may be inserted the end of a cylindrical member 26 to simulate the smoke stack. This cylindrical member 26 is identical with the member 20 which simulates the steam cylinder, and it is provided with two rows of longitudinal perforations 27, disposed diametrically opposite each other, which are used in certain instances to connect it with an associated structure.

As indicated in Figs. l and 8, the cylindrical element 10 comprises a rectangular plate of resilient material rolled into cylindrical shape. \Vhen assembled into any one of the toys shown, (and it may be used with a number of models not shown,) bolts may be passed through the end perforations l5 and 16 to secure together the edges 29 and 30 to maintain it in proper cylindrical shape, the edges being slightly overlapped to bring into registration the end perforations 15 and 16 through which the bolts are passed. The opening 25 is provided adjacent one ed e of the plate 10, and certain other perforations 31 and 32 are provided in this plate inaddi-' tion to the perforations 15 and 16 to connect various structures thereto.

The cylindrical member 26 also consists of a flat plate rolled into cylindrical shape. The meeting edges of the cylinder in this case are usually not secured together, the cylindrical shape of the element beingmaintained by its inherent resiliency. This feature possesses distinct advantages, as it en-- ables the smaller cylinder to be connected to various structures without the use of fastening members. For instance, as shown in Fig. 1, the cylinder may be slightly compressed until its diameter is sufliciently decreased to permit one end thereof to be inserted in the opening 25. The edges 33 and 34 in this case may pass each other or overlap to a slight extent. The resilience of this member then tends to. expand it into frictional contact with the edge of the opening 25 to hold it in position.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings, I have shown a model of a vertical steam engine comprisin the cylindrical boiler member 10 mounted in a suitable manner upon a base 11 The steam cylinder 20 in this instance is secured upon the side of the boiler by a ,U-shaped bracket 35, connected to the cylinder 20 by a bolt passing through a perforation therein. and through one of the perforations 27, and connected to the boiler 10 by bolts passing through perforations in the feet of the'braclret and through the perforation 31 and one of the perforations 15. A

piston rod 36 projects from the steam cylinder, and a connecting-rod 37 is pivoted'to the piston and to a crank 38 upon a shaft 39 passing through certain of the perforations 16 of the boiler 10,and carrying on its opposite end a flywheel 40 and pulley 41. A small cylinder 26 simulating the smoke stack is in this instance connected to the boiler 10 by means of a reducing cap 42. This reducing element has a lower cylindrical portion 43 designed to embrace the upper end of the boiler 10 telescopically, a conical portion 44, and an upper cylindrical reduced flange 45 over which the cylinder 26 is designed to it telescopically. When formed into the shape shown in the models illustrated, the

element 10 is in the form of a cylinder which is split longitudinally from end to end. This element, therefore, may be readily compressed and inserted into the cap 42 with its upper edge portion received within and lying against the inner surface of the cylindrical portion or flange 43 defining the 'opening of the cap, as shown in Figs. 2 and 7. The lateral edge portions of the element are usually slightly overlapped, as above stated.

In this instance the member 26 is also maintained in place by friction. It is necessary in mounting it upon the part 45 to expand it slightly so as to increase its diameter sufficiently to enable it to receive this part and its resilience will then tend to contract it into tight engagement with the part 15 so that it will be properly maintained in position.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings I have shown a model of a steam furnace, the body of the boiler of the furnace being the cylindrical element 10 described in connect-ion with Figs. 1 and 2. In this instance the reducer 42 is used to simulate the top of the furnace,'while the element 26 simulating the Smokestack is inserted within the opening 25 of the memberlO, as described in connection with Fig. 1. To the cylindrical member 10 are secured draft and feed doors 50 and 51, the members being mounted upon strips 52 secured to the cylinder by bolts 53 passing through the perforations 16. A pressure draft regulator is simulated by a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to. a bracket 55, and having cables 56 and 5? connecting it to the draft door 50 and the lever 58 which operates a damper, not shown, in the smoke pipe 26.

vVhen it is desirable'to close the ends of the cylindrical member 10 this may be done by the use of the cap or head member 60 shown in Fig. 5, having a peripheral flange 61 slightly oifset from the body of the head. In t iis instance the element 10 may be expanded to receive the body portion of the head mein ber 60. This member is prov ded with a series of perforations 62 adiacent its edge and is designed to be connected to the cylinder by an angle member 63 having perforations through which may be passed boltswhich also pass through the perforations 16 and 62, as shown in Fig. 3. The mean or 60 is also provided with a number of radially disposed slots 6% through which bolts may be passed to secure the member 60 to a suitable base. such as the base 11 shownin Fig. 2.

It is also provided with a central perforation 65 which may be used in certain instances to connect various members to the head 60, such, for instance, as the member 66 shown in Fig. 1, and simulating the flue cleanout door of the locomotive.

The construction and manner of use of the several parts described will be readily understood from the foregoing description, and it will be understood that these parts may be connected together with facility, and also may be connected together in various relations to form various structures. In particular, it will be seen that the small cylinder 26 may be connected to the large cylinder in various relations, and maintained in position by friction due to its resilient nature, This manner of connecting the parts without the use of fastening members enables the models to be assembledv and disassembled speedily and with a minimum of effort. Moreover, it will be obvious that a number of the parts are usable in various relations in different structures so that a large number of different models may be constructed from a relatively small number of different parts.

\Vhile I have shown and described some preferred embodin'ients of my invention, itv

will be understood that it is not to be limited to all. the details shown, but is capable of modification and variation within the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. A toy boiler construction, a cylindrical element forming the body of the boiler and a second element associated with the first named element and forming the smo-kestack,

from end to end, said second member being secured to the first by having an end thereof telescopically received over said flange.

3. In a structural toy, a boiler body gener ally of cylindrical shape and having an end portion provided with a reduced opening and a flange surrounding said opening, said body also being provided with an opening in its side wall, a split cylindrical member of smaller diameter than the body and formed of resilient material, said split member being adaptedto telescopically embrace said flange or to be received telescopicallyin said side wall opening. 7

4. In a structural toy, a boiler constru tion comprising a boiler body of cylindrical shape, a frusto conical cap mounted at one endv of' said body and tapering outwardly, said cap being provided with an opening at its smaller end, and a flange surrounding said opening, a cylindrical member of smaller diameter than thebody and split from end to end, said member being secured to the cap by having an end thereof telescopically engaged with said flange.

5. In a toy boiler construction, a boiler body comprising a member of cylindrical shape, a head for said member having a body portion and a peripheral flange, the flange being offset from the body portion so that the latter is received within the boiler body, the boiler body and the head being provided with perforations, and means engaged through said perforations to secure the head to the body.

6. A toy boiler construction comprising an element forming the body of the boiler, and another element having a depending flange about its periphery and having a part of smaller diameter disposed thereon to simulate a smokestack, said first-mentioned element comprising a split cylindrical member of rolled-up sheet material adapted to be received and held within the opening formed by the depending flange about said second mentioned element. v

.7. A toy boiler construction comprising an element forming the body of the boiler, and another element having a flange about its. periphery and having a part of reduced cross-section disposed thereon to simulate a smokestack, said first-mentioned. element comprising a split cylindrical member of rolled-up sheet material, adapted to engage said flange telescopically and having perforationsdisposed adjacent its free side edges, said edges overlapping each other.

8. In a constructiontoy, element comprising a generally cylindrical member of substantially un form cross-sectional form from end to end, said member being split longitudinally from end to end, said elementbeing formed of resilient material and adapted to be compressed so as to be received and held in an opening in another element of a dlameter smaller than its normal diameter and to be expanded to embrace another element of said construction toy of larger diameter than the normal'diameter of said first-mentioned element.

9. An element for a toy construction set, adapted to be detachably assembled with other elements of said set in various relations, said element comprising a rolled-up sheet metal plate forming a split cylinder of substantially uniform cross-sectional form from end to end, the free side edges of said plate normally overlapping each other, and said cylinder being compressible for insertion into another element of the set having an opening of smaller diameter than the normal diameter of said cylinder, whereby said cylinder is held frictionally in said opening for assembling said elements.

10. An element for a toy construction set, comprising a split cylinder of sheet metal of substantially uniform cross-sectional form from end to end, said cylinder having overlapping longitudina ly disposed free edges and provided with aplurality of perforations therein on opposite sides of the split portion of said cylinder, in combination with another element having an opening of smaller diameter than the normal diameter of said c ;"linder, said cylinder being inserted in said opening under compression and being held therein by friction.

11. In toy building model, an element simulating a boiler body and comprising a rolled-up metal plate forming a longitudinally split cylinder, and a cap element having a rim member forming a round opening or socket, said cylinder being provided with performations adjacent the split portion thereof, and said cylinder being compressible for insertion into said opening in the cap element and having its end portion lying Within and against said rim member.

12. In a construction toy model, the combination of an element simulating a boiler body and comprising a rolled-up sheet metal plate forming a longitudinally split cylinoer, the free side edge portions of said element slightly overlapping each other and provided with performations adapted to be brought into registry, and a cap element having a circular peripheral flange extending axially thereof, said first-named element betransversely compressible for insertion into said cap element and having its end portion lying Within and against said circular flange.

l3. An element for a construction toy of the type described, comprising a rolled-up member of sheet material in the form of a cylinder of substantially uniform cross-sectional form from end to end, said cylinder be ng provided with rows of equidistantly spaced perforations and having free edges extending substantially from end to end thereof. said edges overlapping each other and said member being readily compressed or expanded to reduce or increase the diameter thereof in assembling it with other elements of the toy set, said element being held in position by friction when so compressed or expanded.

in witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 8th day of Februarj, 1926.

ALFRED C. GILBERT. 

